In 1935, Rabbi Tobias Geffen became the only known person outside
of The Coca-Cola Company to examine the company's closely guarded secret formula.
Living in Atlanta, where Coca-Cola was headquartered, Geffen received repeated questions from Jewish communities about whether the drink was kosher. To answer them, Coca-Cola allowed him to privately inspect the confidential ingredient list under strict conditions that he would never reveal the recipe.
During his review, Geffen found that one ingredient, glycerin, was being produced from non-kosher animal tallow. He worked with the company to replace it with a vegetable-based alternative. He also helped resolve a separate Passover issue involving a grain-derived ingredient by recommending an alternative sweetener that preserved the drink's taste.
After these changes were made, Geffen ruled that Coca-Cola was kosher for year-round use, with a special Passover formulation also becoming possible. His work helped make the world's most famous soft drink accessible to millions of observant Jewish consumers while preserving one of the greatest trade secrets in business history.
For Passover, Coke replaces high-fructose corn syrup with pure cane sugar (sucrose). This change makes the soda compliant with Ashkenazi Jewish dietary laws during Passover, when corn-derived ingredients (kitniyot) are forbidden. These special bottles feature distinct yellow caps and are sold in stores each spring. Buy 'em whenever you see them...
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